A's return home, drop opener to Mariners 4-2

Updated 7:10 am, Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Mariners outfielder Cole Gillespie scores past A's catcher John Jaso after a single by Seattle's Brad Miller in the sixth inning.

Mariners outfielder Cole Gillespie scores past A's catcher John Jaso after a single by Seattle's Brad Miller in the sixth inning.

Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press

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Seattle Mariners' Mike Zunino (3) is tagged out at third by Oakland Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson (20) as Zunino tried to advance from first to third base on a single by Michael Saunders during the sixth inning of a baseball game on Monday, May 5, 2014, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) less

Seattle Mariners' Mike Zunino (3) is tagged out at third by Oakland Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson (20) as Zunino tried to advance from first to third base on a single by Michael Saunders during the ... more

Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press

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OAKLAND, CA - MAY 05: Jed Lowrie #8 congratulates Brandon Moss #37 of the Oakland Athletics after he hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners at O.co Coliseum on May 5, 2014 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) less

OAKLAND, CA - MAY 05: Jed Lowrie #8 congratulates Brandon Moss #37 of the Oakland Athletics after he hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners at O.co Coliseum on ... more

Photo: Ezra Shaw, Getty Images

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OAKLAND, CA - MAY 05: Scott Kazmir #26 of the Oakland Athletics pitches against the Seattle Mariners at O.co Coliseum on May 5, 2014 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

OAKLAND, CA - MAY 05: Scott Kazmir #26 of the Oakland Athletics pitches against the Seattle Mariners at O.co Coliseum on May 5, 2014 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Photo: Ezra Shaw, Getty Images

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Oakland Athletics' Brandon Moss hits a two-run home run against the Seattle Mariners during the fourth inning of a baseball game on Monday, May 5, 2014, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Oakland Athletics' Brandon Moss hits a two-run home run against the Seattle Mariners during the fourth inning of a baseball game on Monday, May 5, 2014, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press

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OAKLAND, CA - MAY 05: Chris Young #53 of the Seattle Mariners pitches against the Oakland Athletics at O.co Coliseum on May 5, 2014 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

OAKLAND, CA - MAY 05: Chris Young #53 of the Seattle Mariners pitches against the Oakland Athletics at O.co Coliseum on May 5, 2014 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Photo: Ezra Shaw, Getty Images

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OAKLAND, CA - MAY 05: Stefen Romero #7 of the Seattle Mariners is congratulated by Mike Zunino #3 after he scored on a ground out by Kyle Seager #15 in the first inning of their game against the Oakland Athletics at O.co Coliseum on May 5, 2014 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) less

OAKLAND, CA - MAY 05: Stefen Romero #7 of the Seattle Mariners is congratulated by Mike Zunino #3 after he scored on a ground out by Kyle Seager #15 in the first inning of their game against the Oakland ... more

Photo: Ezra Shaw, Getty Images

A's return home, drop opener to Mariners 4-2

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The defense was freaky, funky and fabulous. The offense? Fizzled.

After a 6-4 trip that left the A's with the second-best record in the American League, they returned home Monday night and sent an undefeated pitcher, Scott Kazmir, to the mound.

But other than one swing by Brandon Moss - a two-run homer in the fourth inning - they didn't solve 6-foot-10 Chris Young and five relievers in a 4-2 loss to the Mariners.

"He's throwing out of the sky," Moss said of Young.

Moss, who started in left field, had his fingerprints all over this one. In one moment, he was losing a seemingly routine fly ball in the lights. Next moment, he was throwing out a runner trying to advance two bases on a base hit.

That was the sixth inning, which featured plenty of defensive memories and gave the Mariners some wiggle room.

It started when Brad Miller reached on the lights-aided single. Moss was able to field it on a bounce, but Cole Gillespie made a heads-up baserunning play and scored uncontested.

Miller stole second and third, beating catcher John Jaso's throw both times, but third baseman Josh Donaldson fielded Mike Zunino's grounder and alertly threw out Miller at the plate.

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Then came Moss' inning-ending throw to third to nail Zunino on Michael Saunders' single. Moss was more bummed about Miller's ball in the lights than excited about the throw.

"Sometimes those plays feel worse than errors," Moss said. "When you make an error, you know it's your fault, you can take ownership for it. But when something like that happens, and with (Kazmir) battling, it's tough."

Then there was Kazmir, whose first two batters reached on singles off gloves - and both scored. The Mariners broke a 2-2 tie when Stefen Romero hit a Kazmir changeup for his first big-league homer in the fifth.

"Wasn't my best of days," said Kazmir, whose velocity was a bit down.

The A's threatened in the seventh, putting their first two batters aboard, but Alberto Callaspo bounced into a double play. Pinch-hitter Derek Norris walked, and A's manager Bob Melvin summoned two guys who could use some rest.

First, he had Josh Reddick announced as a pinch-hitter - apparently a bluff, considering Melvin had said Reddick wouldn't play because of a sore ankle - prompting Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon to bring in lefty Joe Beimel. Melvin replaced Reddick with Yoenis Céspedes, who has a hamstring issue but was OK to swing.

Céspedes popped out to end the inning, and the A's never threatened again.

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